"I've never been caught."
"Yes, you have. I had to bail you out!"
"Don't worry about me, then. Just focus on yourself." He took a sip of the cider. "And remember to thank your dear brother when the prince proposes to you."
Rolling my eyes, I tried to think of a witty retort, but it died on my tongue. Liam's eyes widened, and he blinked a silent message at me.
Stiffening, I turned around.
The crown prince of Aenir approached. Snow dusted his forest green doublet and silver cloak. Neatly combed hair the color of steel curled around his ears, and brilliant, dark green eyes focused solely on . . .
Me.
Liam nudged me and buried his face in his drink.
Shooting to my feet, I set down my mug and straightened my skirts.
"There you are." Prince Laiserian smiled. "Your father mentioned you liked this . . . " He trailed off, observing a couple as they sang lovingly to the dead trees. "Delightful revelry."
"It's the only time the people of Muirashi are happy," I said, mortified to be caught here, of all places. "I like to share it with them."
He chuckled and nodded at Liam. "Do you mind if I steal your sister? I'd like a word with her, before the ball begins."
Liam glanced at me, and our eyes met. His eyebrows twitched, and my mouth jerked in response. A silent communication we both understood.
It roughly translated to, 'Saints, Liam, it's really happening.'
'Don't fuck it up.'
"By all means." Liam bowed his head. "Take her off my hands."
Laiserian offered me an arm, and I took it. Liam smiled encouragingly as the prince guided me away.
"By the way. You wouldn't have seen my brother?" Laiserian asked.
"Has he gone missing again?"
"As always." The prince rolled his eyes. "Why Ferris is more interested in seedy taverns than balls, I’ll never understand.”
“My brother’s a scoundrel, too,” I joked.
“Is he?” Laiserian raised an eyebrow. “Your father has nothing but good things to say.”
“Because the brat’s charmed him.” I bit my tongue. I was talking to a prince, couldn’t I rein it in for one minute?
He chuckled. “But enough of that. I hear your father's trying to get you into the family business."
"He and I have different definitions of what our family business is."
Father was Aenir's chief diplomat. He'd trained me to follow in his footsteps, and the council had offered me a position I'd, to date, refused.
My destiny lay elsewhere.
The work of a diplomat in times of peace didn't sound particularly thrilling, anyway.
Laiserian regarded me curiously. "I can imagine. Had I suffered what you have? I'd be lost."
Keeping my face even, I dipped my head. I'd been lost my whole life. My father had brought me to the capital shortly after my birth and unknowingly saved both our lives.
